The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Amsterdam

Mr and Mrs Watson is named after the founders of the vegan movement. The mission of this “plant-based food bar for vegan food lovers and cheese addicts” in Oost is to “change the world with good food”. While there are a few interesting options on the all-vegan menu (including a tofu scramble and a barbecue tempeh reuben sandwich), you’re here for the award-winning home-made vegan cheese. Go all out and order the Watson Cheese Platter, which may feature cashew roquefort, or share a cashew fondue and finish with the Say Cheese-Cake.

Everything at this “vegan mylk and burger bar” in De Pijp is 100 percent vegan, from the Beyond Meat patties and buns to the miso-glazed cinnamon buns, creamy vanilla soft serve and boozy shakes. Deer Mama is on a mission to create “cruelty-free comfort food” and does so cheerfully in a millennial-pink interior described as “Peach Pit meets Miami Vice meets Saved by the Bell”.

There are bigger and better-known salad bars in town. However, the bright and modern mini-chain Venkel (Dutch for “fennel”), with outposts in De Pijp and Oost, remains the foodies’ choice for super-fresh locally sourced bowls of goodness. An all-day menu features a variety of satisfying seasonal salads, with a good assortment of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. You can also create your own by picking from a selection of veggies, greens, grains, toppings and dressings.

Who says vegan has to be virtuous? This self-titled “cruelty-free junk food bar” is styled after the quintessential Dutch snack bar (a type of lowbrow Dutch fast-food outlet). However, it features an added helping of hipster edge courtesy of graffiti slogans like “The Future Is Vegan” and “Suck My Bitter Balls”. While you’ll find typical Dutch snacks such as bitterballen (bite-size croquettes) and kapsalon (loaded fries with shawarma) across VJFB’s five Amsterdam locations, there are also burgers, vegan sashimi and eco-friendly cocktails.

Europe’s first avocado-themed eatery was a social media hit even before opening in 2017, and the hype continues with long lines at the trendsetter’s De Pijp outpost. A tip? Head to the newer Zuid location, where you can dine in a calmer environment that features a trendy plant wall with a neon logo as a picture-perfect backdrop for all that Instagrammable avo. Either way, (sustainably sourced) avocado steals the spotlight, though it’s not 100 percent meat-free. Still, there’s avo toast, of course, but you’ll also find avo-based salads, smoothies, pizza and even ice cream.